{"id":9,"date":"2021-04-30T16:11:32","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T16:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whistlestopkidsswla.com\/about\/"},"modified":"2023-01-17T11:44:09","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T17:44:09","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/whistlestopkidsswla.com\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"9\" class=\"elementor elementor-9\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29c5911 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"29c5911\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;split&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 20\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M0,0v3c0,0,393.8,0,483.4,0c9.2,0,16.6,7.4,16.6,16.6c0-9.1,7.4-16.6,16.6-16.6C606.2,3,1000,3,1000,3V0H0z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a5d7d75\" data-id=\"a5d7d75\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-de48683 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-stretch elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"de48683\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c050f3f\" data-id=\"c050f3f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39c99cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"39c99cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 28-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>The Whistle Stop is a non-profit organization that cares for the needs of children whose caregivers are involved in custody litigation or foster care services by providing a safe environment for supervised visitation and exchanges. We are committed to serving the needs of children and families in the five parish area through our role as a neutral third party. We provide the structure children need in order to have safe contact with their caregivers, siblings and relatives. <br \/><br \/>Funding comes from clients, schools, foundations, and individuals. Our sources of charitable giving evolved from Mad Hot Ballroom where our local business community has provided substantial support for everything we do, and as a result of those givings The Whistle Stop has had the ability to give back to the community with our Dancing Classrooms or DanceSport programs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-63ef980 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-stretch elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"63ef980\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-44c5021\" data-id=\"44c5021\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3eda832 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3eda832\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-606f061\" data-id=\"606f061\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a38d2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0a38d2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 28-02-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">History<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e53375f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e53375f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Whistle Stop opened its doors in June, 2003, in response to the need for a local supervised visitation center pursuant to La.R.S. 9:361 et.seq. the Post-Separation Family Violence Act. (1)\u00a0<\/p><p>This act requires supervised visitation in situations where there are possible risks to the children involved in domestic violence, child abuse or neglect.\u00a0 Southwest Louisiana has already seen first-hand a number of tragic, domestic violence cases where mothers have been murdered and children suffered, and at times died, as the result of a domestic violence incident or a contentious custody battle.\u00a0<\/p><p>The Whistle Stop began with a clear commitment to providing prevention services.\u00a0 In Calcasieu Parish alone, there are approximately 1,200 new divorce cases per year with an estimated 33% of those cases considered &#8220;high risk&#8221; involving spousal abuse, child abuse or both. (2)\u00a0 Since beginning operations, the Whistle Stop has served hundreds of families, including many with children in foster care, and it continues to grow to serve areas across Southwest Louisiana.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e386b24\" data-id=\"e386b24\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4ffddd7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4ffddd7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6e9d718\" data-id=\"6e9d718\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55dc330 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"55dc330\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Effects on Children<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3efbd2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e3efbd2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #2a2a2a; font-size: medium;\">The statistics regarding the effects of family conflict (both physical and emotional) on children are staggering.\u00a0 43% of all critical injuries and child fatalities occur in homes where there is spousal abuse. <\/span><\/div><div>\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #2a2a2a; font-size: medium;\">(3)\u00a0 Children who witness or are subjected to emotional or physical violence are at risk for developmental delays, lack of social competency, and poor impulse control and anger management skills.\u00a0 They may feel isolated from friends and family and guilty over irrational feelings of responsibility for the family difficulties.\u00a0 They can be confused, angry, nervous, or attention seeking &#8211; often all at the same time.\u00a0 Abused and neglected children are 6 times more likely to engage in crimes against persons than their non-abused counterparts. <\/span><\/div><div>\u00a0<\/div><div class=\"paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #2a2a2a; font-size: medium;\">(4)\u00a0 The Whistle Stop exists to serve as a prevention program.\u00a0 Regardless of the nature of the allegations involved in the litigation, we offer an environment where children can feel safe and secure, while still maintaining contact with the parents and family members they love.\u00a0 Parents can prevent revisiting disputes with former partners and escape conflict by avoiding direct confrontation with the other party in the litigation.\u00a0 Children can avoid watching their parents continue the difficulties which may be been the cause for their separation in the first place.<\/span><\/div><div>\u00a0<\/div><ol><li><span style=\"color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 16px;\">La.R.S. 9:361 et.seq.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 16px;\">14th Judicial District Court Data<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #2a2a2a; font-size: 16px;\">The Family Place Community Report<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #2a2a2a;\">The Heritage Foundation &#8220;The Child Abuse Crisis:\u00a0 The Disintegration of Marriage,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Family, and the American Community<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Whistle Stop is a non-profit organization that cares for the needs of children whose caregivers are involved in custody litigation or foster care services by providing a safe environment for supervised visitation and exchanges. We are committed to serving the needs of children and families in the five parish area through our role as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"disabled","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"enabled","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whistlestopkidsswla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whistlestopkidsswla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whistlestopkidsswla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whistlestopkidsswla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whistlestopkidsswla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/whistlestopkidsswla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whistlestopkidsswla.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}